I have noticed a trend that where in the past one would simply use the word "fee", now the phrase "nominal fee" is always used. As far as I understand, the word "nominal" literally means "in name only". So a "nominal fee" would be a fee so low that it is not really a fee at all, but is a fee "in name only".
For example a swimming beach in my area has a website where they say "the beach is open to the public for a nominal fee of $8". In my estimation, $8 is not in any way low… if anything it is average and is probably more on the high side for swimming. It would have to be on the order of $1 or $2 to be considered "nominal" in my estimation.
Is this a case of misuse of a term, where people think the word "nominal" always goes before the word "fee" and don't understand its meaning?
Best Answer
You are absolutely right: this is an inflation of the word "nominal", which ought to mean "(so low as to be) in name only". You would normally not name the exact amount if you say it's a "nominal fee"; you just say this:
You might add the actual fee in brackets. Perhaps whoever made that sign didn't quite understand the proper use of "nominal".